Many individuals complain of memory problems and difficulty concentrating. What variables could be behind this rising phenomenon?

Our memory is truly one of our greatest assets. It’s crucial for every aspect of life: school, career, relationships (remembering names, faces, events, interests of others, etc. And everyday life depends upon our ability to recall previous facts and bits of information. Remembering is the foundation for applying knowledge to solve a variety of problems that come our direction.

But, for some reason, the vast majority of people believe that their memory ability could and should be better. As a physician, I have heard this complaint coming from people at younger ages recently, including college students.

Research on memory has advanced greatly in recent years. We now understand more about brain function and how to enhance, protect, and preserve what is known as “cognitive function” or the ability to remember facts, process information, and solve problems.